Imaging condition determining method and an X-ray CT apparatus

Abstract

An imaging condition determining method for an x-ray CT apparatus for performing imaging by a helical scan. The method includes making a table of various imaging conditions in advance, extracting at least one imaging condition from the table in accordance with age, imaging region, imaging length of the patient as well as the highest-priority objective specified by a user, and displaying the exposure dose of the patient under the at least one imaging condition, enabling the user to adjust the exposure dose, and determining the imaging condition adjusted in response to the adjustment of the exposure dose to the at least one imaging condition.

1. An imaging condition determining method for an x-ray CT apparatus for performing imaging by a helical scan, comprising the steps of:
 making a table of various imaging conditions in advance; 
 extracting a first candidate imaging condition from said table in accordance with an age, imaging region, imaging length of a patient, and the highest-priority objective specified by a user, and displaying an exposure dose of the patient under the first candidate of imaging condition; 
 enabling the user to adjust said exposure dose; and 
 determining a second candidate imaging condition adjusted in response to the adjustment of said exposure dose. 
 
   
   
     2. An imaging condition determining method according to  claim 1 , wherein said highest-priority objective is the exposure dose. 
   
   
     3. An imaging condition determining method according to  claim 1 , wherein said highest-priority objective is one of exposure dose, image quality, and imaging speed. 
   
   
     4. An imaging condition determining method according to  claim 2 , wherein said exposure dose is indicated as a dose length product (DLP). 
   
   
     5. An imaging condition determining method according to of  claim 1 , wherein when there are plural candidates of said imaging conditions, one of the imaging conditions is determined based on a second priority objective specified by the user. 
   
   
     6. An imaging condition determining method according to  claim 5 , wherein said second priority objective is one, which is different from the highest-priority objective, of the exposure dose, image quality and imaging speed. 
   
   
     7. An imaging condition determining method according to  claim 1 , wherein said imaging conditions contained in said table are the imaging conditions based on the performance. 
   
   
     8. An imaging condition determining method according to  claim 1 , wherein said imaging conditions contained in said table are the imaging conditions based on a simulation. 
   
   
     9. An X-ray CT apparatus, comprising:
 a memory device for storing a variety of imaging conditions previously made as a table; 
 a display device for extracting a first candidate imaging condition from said table in accordance with an age, imaging region, imaging length of a patient, and the highest-priority objective specified by a user for displaying an exposure dose of the patient under the first candidate imaging condition; 
 an adjusting device for enabling the user to adjust said exposure dose; and 
 a determining device for determining a second candidate imaging condition by performing correction in response to the adjustment of said exposure dose. 
 
   
   
     10. An X-ray CT apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said highest-priority objective is the exposure dose. 
   
   
     11. An X-ray CT apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said highest-priority objective is any one of exposure dose, image quality, and imaging speed. 
   
   
     12. An X-ray CT apparatus according to  claims 10 , wherein said exposure dose is indicated as a dose length product (DLP). 
   
   
     13. An X-ray CT apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein when there is a plurality of candidates of said imaging conditions, one of the imaging conditions is determined based on a second priority objective specified by the user. 
   
   
     14. An X-ray CT apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said second priority objective is one, which is different from the highest-priority objective, of the exposure dose, image quality and imaging speed. 
   
   
     15. An X-ray CT apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said imaging conditions contained in said table are imaging conditions based on the performance. 
   
   
     16. An X-ray tomographic imaging helical scan CT apparatus according to  claim 9  in which:
 said imaging conditions contained in said table are imaging conditions based on a simulation.